Climate change, the built environment and triple-helix innovation

study assesses relevant discussions related to climate change and extreme weather management, exploring concepts and developing arguments focused on how the need for risk mitigation policies can support the development and establishment of a new era of innovative actions related to the built environment and how hosting mega events can become catalysts for positive change. These arguments lead to further investigation of how successful cases of innovation were achieved only after an attractive environment was created, mainly through solid and combined efforts from the triple helix: industry, university and the government (Etzkowitz, 2008). Rather than exploring the many debates linked to the overall topic of climate change, this study focuses on how extreme weather and global climate change can force innovative management of the built environment and how hosting mega events has supported the development of sustainable development technologies and schemes, as suggested by the analysis of cases focused in Japan and the Middle East. The complete study focuses on ways to foster an environment of progress through the organization of mega events, in both the technological and management sides of human interventions, through the triple helix concept and the resulting public-private partnerships. The ensuing conclusions are based on the notion that the risks of climate change can be at least partially mitigated by a holistic approach to transformation, ideally with new ideas being fostered and enhanced by universities and companies in an attractive business environment truly supported by policy makers. (C) 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. Peer-review under responsibility of the scientific committee of the World Engineers Summit Applied Energy Symposium & Forum: Low Carbon Cities & Urban Energy Joint Conference.